Pixel Dance

Millie, our dalmatian, is going on 13 1/2. She’s a tough puppy. Two years ago, we had to remove her leg because of bone cancer. They said she had a small chance of living up to 2 years, (most likely it was 6 months) and if she lived longer than that, she would be a wonder dog.

Well, 2 years and 3 months later, we are still overjoyed to have our Super-Wonder-Lemon Dog with us. Here are some things I’ve learned:

Sometimes you do have to go to heck and back. Life can throw some pretty nasty stuff your way, and you have to find a way through it. You have to integrate it. You don’t get to stay there. The day Millie’s leg came off wasn’t the last day of her life. She learned to balance on three legs. She learned to find the routes without obstacles in the back yard. And she learned to bark for help when she couldn’t get up. Sometimes the only success in life is to take the next step.

It’s only bad if you act like it. Every day that dog acts like she has four legs. It rarely occurs to her that the fourth one isn’t there. And if it does, she patiently waits for one of us to figure out she needs a little assistance. She has created a runway for herself so she can make a running jump up onto the couch. And many mornings we find the couch pushed several feet out of place, an indication of the tenacity of a dog who doesn’t care what she doesn’t have, but presses into what she does have.

Love covers a multitude of pee. As I was cleaning up puppy urine at 3 am, I realized how much love really does change your attitude. I lifted Millie up, tucked my head in close to her ear, and said, “I will pick you up as many times as you fall, whenever it is, wherever you are.” Genuine love makes the disgusting into a beautiful moment. And you really come to find out who loves you when you are absolutely helpless.

Three legs can still spoon. Millie often tries to coax me to bring the laptop to the couch. And the routine is the same – as soon as she gets me settled, then she pushes me forward, wrapping herself around me. It’s as good as spooning with 4 legs. Love is love, and it’s good.

If it’s trouble, lop it off. It’s amazing what you can get by without. You can still give love and be beautiful, no matter what the circumstances bring you. In fact, most of the time you’re more beautiful with scars. Scars are life’s beauty marks, and we’d be wise to see how beautiful they are.

Sometimes I think I look a lot like Millie on the inside – a little scarred and struggling to keep my balance. But I’ve learned this: find a ramp to jump for what you want, pretend like you’re all there, and keep running with your ears flopping in the wind. Life is too exciting to focus on what’s not there.